Page 106 of Believing in a Billionaire
“Kyle,” she said, her voice shaky while she patted his cheek. “Come on, wake up.”
A groan escaped him as he lifted his head slightly, one eye too swollen to open fully. “Julia?” he slurred.
“Yes, it’s okay. You’re okay. We’re going to get you out of here,” she promised as she slid the knife open and sliced at the restraints around his ankles. “Sierra, find my phone. Alex called the police. See if he has an ETA on them.”
The woman bobbed her head, her face twisted with concern as she hurried back toward the entrance to search for the cell phone.
Julia moved on to the ties around his wrists as his head lolled forward again. “Come on, Kyle, stay with me, okay?” Her voice cracked, each word a lifeline thrown into the dark, a desperate plea for him to hold on just a little longer.
“It’s too much,” he murmured, each word laced with pain.
“What’s too much?” she asked as she sliced through one zip tie and moved to the next.
“Pain,” he huffed out, his voice strained as she cut the last tether holding him to the chair.
He toppled forward into her, knocking her backward. “It’s okay, I’ve got you. Tell me what to do.”
Sierra hurried over with the phone.
Alex’s voice cut through the speaker. “Sunshine? I’ve got the emergency services two minutes out.”
“Can you get them here any faster?” she asked, panic lacing her voice as she shifted Kyle’s weight off of her and onto the floor.
His features twisted with pain as he reached a shaky hand toward her. She grabbed it and squeezed. “I’m here.”
“Julia,” he said, his voice weak and breathy, “I’m not going to make it.”
Her heart clenched at the words, and she bit back the tears forming. “Don’t say that.”
Sierra hovered close, her pale face and wide eyes betraying her fear. “Julia?” she squeaked as she searched for some reassurance.
Alicia returned, holstering her weapon as she hurried across the space. “How is he?”
“Not good,” Julia answered, her voice shaky. “Alex has police and paramedics two minutes out.”
“Julia,” Kyle repeated.
“I’m here,” she answered, flicking her gaze to him. Something clouded his eyes. He stared at her for a moment before his head lolled to the side.
“Kyle? Kyle!” Her voice, shrill with panic, echoed in the large space as she cut her gaze to her sister. “He’s not breathing.”
Alicia dropped to her knees. “I’m starting CPR.”
She breathed into his mouth before she started chest compressions. Sierra knelt next to her, wrapping her in her arms as Julia pressed a trembling hand to her mouth.
“Paramedics are one minute out,” Alex said.
She clung to Kyle’s limp hand as tears fell to her cheeks. Every passing second stretched into an eternity as silence surrounded them. Her world narrowed to the sharp movements by Alicia as they waited for the paramedics in an agonizing test of patience as she wondered if Lydia had just claimed her first major win.
CHAPTER 23
GRANT
His stomach clenched, not only at her tone but at her words. The tremor in her voice hinted at something tragic. Had they heard from him? What had happened?
As the phone pressed against his ear, Grant felt an icy dread coil in his stomach. Julia’s voice, usually so calm and assured, trembled with barely contained panic.
“Julia, what happened? Did you find him?”
